Mar 16, 2017

Contextual studies - Representation

Today we started the lesson by watching an episode of Game of Thrones, Battle of the Bastards (season 6, episode 9) - which is regarded as the best episode of the series.

What do we mean by 'Virtualism'
- In media context, the simulation of 'the real': primarily through digital construct and manipulation.
- The aesthetic tension between physical and digital; material vs immaterial; 'the uncanny valley'.

Virtualism in visual media 
- Game of thrones, fantasy drama
- Dramatic elements (narrative & character) relies on realism
- Fantasy (non-realist) elements relies on digital constructs



Virtualism in visual media
- Sanctuary, fantasy/sci-fi drama
- Dramatic elements (narrative & character) relies on realism
- Visual context (environment) entirely digital



- 'Virtual' news sets are purely representational.
- Simulated reality; we decode by genre symbols.

Aesthetic tension
- What's 'real'?
- What's 'created'?
- Analogue (practical) or digital?
- How do we perceive difference?

'The uncanny'
"An uncanny effect often arises when the boundary between fantasy and reality is blurred" - Freud, 'The Uncanny' (19190)
- Heimlich, the familiar and comfortable
- Unheimlich, the unfamiliar and strange

'The uncanny valley'
- Following Freud's theory, the perceptual gap between that which is perceived as 'real' and that which is 'almost real' (or a close simulacrum)
- Provokes aesthetic sense of discomfort, eeriness or revulsion.




//Images from Google.com\\

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